Parental attitudes regarding behavior guidance of dental patients with autism.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to evaluate: (1) parents' ability to predict dental treatment cooperation by their autistic child; (2) behavior guidance techniques (BGTs) used during treatment; and (3) parental attitudes regarding basic and advanced BGTs.


METHODS
Data were collected from 85 parent/autistic child pairs and their dentists using surveys and treatment records.


RESULTS
Parents most accurately predicted if their child would permit an examination in the dental chair (> or = 88%) and would cooperate for radiographs (> or = 84%). BGTs utilized most often (> 50%) were positive verbal reinforcement (PVR), tell-show-do (TSD), mouthprops, and rewards. In general, basic BGTs were more acceptable (> 81%) than advanced BGTs (>54%). The most acceptable techniques (>90%) in order were: PVR, TSD, distraction, rewards, general anesthesia, hand-holding by parent, and mouth-props. When parents evaluated only BGTs used for their child, all BGTs, including a stabilization device, were highly acceptable (> 91%), except for staff restraint (74%).


CONCLUSIONS
Parents were accurate in predicting cooperation for some procedures. The most acceptable and efficacious BGTs in order were: PVR, TSD, distraction, rewards, and hand-holding by parent. Parental perceptions of BGTs were influenced by whether or not they had been used for their child.
Marshall
Jennifer
J
mammelon@hotmail.com
Sheller
Barbara
B
Mancl
Lloyd
L
Williams
Bryan J
BJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001288:Attention; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D032763:Behavior Control; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003762:Dental Instruments; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult